Losing Power?

fatlazyless · 09-27-2019, 09:51 AM

Like, why go with an expensive generator when a direct vent, propane heater with a pilot light will work when there's no electric power?

You can set it at 45-degrees for when you are not there, plus it can get set at 70-degrees when you are there and be used.

Is better to have it, and actually use it (a propane heater with a pilot light), than to have one, and basically almost never use it (a generator).

Plus, there is a huge difference in price.

Personally, for the last 26-years, the electric power provided and maintained by the New Hampshire Electric Coop in Meredith is the best, most reliable power ...... it almost never goes out ..... it gets very quickly restored ..... 99.94% reliability is part of what you get by paying your monthly electric bill ..... as close to perfect as it gets!

A private home generator is a totally un-needed and un-necessary item!

codeman671 · 09-27-2019, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Like, why go with an expensive generator when a direct vent, propane heater with a pilot light will work when there's no electric power?

You can set it at 45-degrees for when you are not there, plus it can get set at 70-degrees when you are there and be used.

Is better to have it, and actually use it (a propane heater with a pilot light), than to have one, and basically almost never use it (a generator).

Plus, there is a huge difference in price.

Because a simple 5000 watt generator is more than sufficient to run the bulk of a home if needed in an emergency and only costs $500-600 these days. Your propane heater wont run a refrigerator, lights, etc. There are simple/cheap ways to hook up a generator in times of need.

Formula260SS · 09-27-2019, 10:13 AM

My 5500 watt generator has saved us during more than one multiple day outage. For the cost of the portable one's it's kinda a no-brainer.

I always say if you live in NH without a generator it's your own fault

Sue Doe-Nym · 09-27-2019, 10:19 AM

Our generator is automatic, and so we can count on it when we are far away, and that’s important to us. It all depends on your situation. Having had to depend on it a number of times for relatively short periods, it’s worth it, and we wish we hadn’t held out for so long.

Slickcraft · 09-27-2019, 10:54 AM

I should have mentioned in my 1st response that a few years ago we got a 7K portable generator. We had an electrician install an external inlet box that is hard wired to the breaker panel with a manual transfer switch. So we can power heat, water pump, all the lights and all of the outlets. If the outage looks to be more than 2 hours we get the generator going; especially in winter.

Formula260SS · 09-27-2019, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sue Doe-Nym

Our generator is automatic, and so we can count on it when we are far away, and that’s important to us. It all depends on your situation. Having had to depend on it a number of times for relatively short periods, it’s worth it, and we wish we hadn’t held out for so long.

Makes sense if your away a lot. Ours is at our home and the portable works out fine. On the Island I'm still hanging on to my Propane Fridge for this reason, does probably cost more to run but don't have to worry at all when we're not there. It's all relative to the needs and costs

Biggd · 09-27-2019, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Formula260SS

Makes sense if your away a lot. Ours is at our home and the portable works out fine. On the Island I'm still hanging on to my Propane Fridge for this reason, does probably cost more to run but don't have to worry at all when we're not there. It's all relative to the needs and costs

I'm in Meredith and we lose power 2 or 3 times a year but it's usually back on that same day. I've thought about a generator but I'm only 1 1/2 to 2 hours away. If need be I could run up and light up the wood stove.

Descant · 09-27-2019, 11:38 AM

If you're on city water, you can let water drip and prevent freeze-up. On a well, you need to be able to run the electric water pump. We don't lose power often, but I'm very happy with my automatic whole house generator installed in 2004.. When power goes out for an extended time, gas stations can't pump. I recall being at my local hardware store once when there were people trying to buy gas cans--they were all out and word in the line was other stores were too, and only a few gas stations could pump.
Power outages can be very isolated. You can probably give a specific address to Eversource and get a history for that neighborhood.
We've also had people ask to come stay with us for a couple of hours "Until George can get the portable generator out and started".

8gv · 09-27-2019, 10:26 PM

My generator has done a wonderful job for the last two years.

It has prevented power failures 100% of that time.

MAXUM · 09-28-2019, 10:07 AM

This is really a loaded question anyways.

Power loss can be caused by any number of things, return to operation depends on the cause. Around these parts most if not all major outages are caused by physical damage to the power lines. The extent of damage and more importantly where will determine the outage length. Ice storms and microbursts\high winds are likely to create the most extensive damage, the former on a very wide scale the second intense damage to a more confined area but both usually result in downed lines, snapped poles etc... things that don't get fixed in a few hours. These are not common occurrences but do happen from time to time leaving you having to figure out what to do in the mean time. The power grid to some degree has the ability to re-rout power around damaged areas so long as things are intact.

If you take a look at where you house is drawing power in relation to the power grid, if you are on a main feed line your down time is likely to be minimal comparatively speaking to being on a single feed leg. Power companies restore power to the mains first then hit the areas where they can get the greatest number of people back up with each fix and so on until everyone is back online. If your on a leg shared by only a few houses chances are you'll be waiting a while.

As mentioned, getting yourself setup with at minimum a good portable 5-7K watt generator is a worthwhile investment and are going to produce plenty of power to handle the essentials. Just make sure it is wired correctly with a sub panel and isolation from the main. To many just backfeed their system through a 220 circuit such as a dryer outlet, this is not only dangerous but also illegal. Just don't forget that portable generators should be started every now and then, gas in the tank should be stored with stabilizer if not used and an annual once over to ensure the oil levels are good and so forth. I usually fire mine up twice a year and let them run for about a half hour. Better to find a problem with them when you don't need them than when you do!

I've never been disappointed that I am prepared to be self sufficient when need be, my neighbors who were not and had to host during outages in the past have all figured out it's worth it as well.

boat_guy64 · 09-28-2019, 10:09 PM

I live in Meredith in a development off of Rt 3. In the 13 years I've been here, we've probably lost power for a total of 6 hours. Seems we are close to the main grid and get quick fixes when the power does go out. I have no generator here.

My other house is in southern NH. We seem to be far off of the main grid and while our neighborhood is all underground utilities, the lines to get to us go through mainy tree heavy streets. We've lost power for 7 day or more stretches at least 5 times in the past 10 years in mostly winter but also with one hurricane. I do have a full house generator there.

Seems that southern NH with its population would have a much better and more protected grid but my wife and kids evacuated to the lake many times when we had no power there and not so much as a flicker of lights up here.

09-27-2019, 09:51 AM	#1
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,746 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,007 Times in 735 Posts	Like, why go with an expensive generator when a direct vent, propane heater with a pilot light will work when there's no electric power? You can set it at 45-degrees for when you are not there, plus it can get set at 70-degrees when you are there and be used. Is better to have it, and actually use it (a propane heater with a pilot light), than to have one, and basically almost never use it (a generator). Plus, there is a huge difference in price. Personally, for the last 26-years, the electric power provided and maintained by the New Hampshire Electric Coop in Meredith is the best, most reliable power ...... it almost never goes out ..... it gets very quickly restored ..... 99.94% reliability is part of what you get by paying your monthly electric bill ..... as close to perfect as it gets! A private home generator is a totally un-needed and un-necessary item! __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

09-27-2019, 11:38 AM	#8
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,352 Thanks: 1,342 Thanked 1,623 Times in 1,055 Posts	Water source? If you're on city water, you can let water drip and prevent freeze-up. On a well, you need to be able to run the electric water pump. We don't lose power often, but I'm very happy with my automatic whole house generator installed in 2004.. When power goes out for an extended time, gas stations can't pump. I recall being at my local hardware store once when there were people trying to buy gas cans--they were all out and word in the line was other stores were too, and only a few gas stations could pump. Power outages can be very isolated. You can probably give a specific address to Eversource and get a history for that neighborhood. We've also had people ask to come stay with us for a couple of hours "Until George can get the portable generator out and started".

09-28-2019, 10:09 PM	#11
boat_guy64 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Windham and Meredith Posts: 225 Blog Entries: 5 Thanks: 33 Thanked 89 Times in 42 Posts	Power I live in Meredith in a development off of Rt 3. In the 13 years I've been here, we've probably lost power for a total of 6 hours. Seems we are close to the main grid and get quick fixes when the power does go out. I have no generator here. My other house is in southern NH. We seem to be far off of the main grid and while our neighborhood is all underground utilities, the lines to get to us go through mainy tree heavy streets. We've lost power for 7 day or more stretches at least 5 times in the past 10 years in mostly winter but also with one hurricane. I do have a full house generator there. Seems that southern NH with its population would have a much better and more protected grid but my wife and kids evacuated to the lake many times when we had no power there and not so much as a flicker of lights up here.

The Following User Says Thank You to codeman671 For This Useful Post:
Wifi-1 (09-27-2019)

09-27-2019, 10:13 AM	#3
Formula260SS Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NH Posts: 384 Thanks: 11 Thanked 76 Times in 51 Posts	My 5500 watt generator has saved us during more than one multiple day outage. For the cost of the portable one's it's kinda a no-brainer. I always say if you live in NH without a generator it's your own fault

09-27-2019, 10:19 AM	#4
Sue Doe-Nym Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,425 Thanks: 743 Thanked 788 Times in 413 Posts	Our generator is automatic, and so we can count on it when we are far away, and that’s important to us. It all depends on your situation. Having had to depend on it a number of times for relatively short periods, it’s worth it, and we wish we hadn’t held out for so long.

The Following User Says Thank You to Sue Doe-Nym For This Useful Post:
camp guy (09-29-2019)

09-27-2019, 10:54 AM	#5
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,299 Thanks: 1,222 Thanked 2,082 Times in 954 Posts	I should have mentioned in my 1st response that a few years ago we got a 7K portable generator. We had an electrician install an external inlet box that is hard wired to the breaker panel with a manual transfer switch. So we can power heat, water pump, all the lights and all of the outlets. If the outage looks to be more than 2 hours we get the generator going; especially in winter.

09-27-2019, 10:26 PM	#9
8gv Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,093 Thanks: 64 Thanked 744 Times in 478 Posts	My generator has done a wonderful job for the last two years. It has prevented power failures 100% of that time.

09-28-2019, 10:07 AM	#10
MAXUM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kuna ID Posts: 2,755 Thanks: 246 Thanked 1,942 Times in 802 Posts	This is really a loaded question anyways. Power loss can be caused by any number of things, return to operation depends on the cause. Around these parts most if not all major outages are caused by physical damage to the power lines. The extent of damage and more importantly where will determine the outage length. Ice storms and microbursts\high winds are likely to create the most extensive damage, the former on a very wide scale the second intense damage to a more confined area but both usually result in downed lines, snapped poles etc... things that don't get fixed in a few hours. These are not common occurrences but do happen from time to time leaving you having to figure out what to do in the mean time. The power grid to some degree has the ability to re-rout power around damaged areas so long as things are intact. If you take a look at where you house is drawing power in relation to the power grid, if you are on a main feed line your down time is likely to be minimal comparatively speaking to being on a single feed leg. Power companies restore power to the mains first then hit the areas where they can get the greatest number of people back up with each fix and so on until everyone is back online. If your on a leg shared by only a few houses chances are you'll be waiting a while. As mentioned, getting yourself setup with at minimum a good portable 5-7K watt generator is a worthwhile investment and are going to produce plenty of power to handle the essentials. Just make sure it is wired correctly with a sub panel and isolation from the main. To many just backfeed their system through a 220 circuit such as a dryer outlet, this is not only dangerous but also illegal. Just don't forget that portable generators should be started every now and then, gas in the tank should be stored with stabilizer if not used and an annual once over to ensure the oil levels are good and so forth. I usually fire mine up twice a year and let them run for about a half hour. Better to find a problem with them when you don't need them than when you do! I've never been disappointed that I am prepared to be self sufficient when need be, my neighbors who were not and had to host during outages in the past have all figured out it's worth it as well.